Grasping auxiliary for carrying article, and process for producing the same

ABSTRACT

A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article or articles includes a tubular body  2 . Each of opposite side ends  6   a  and  6   b  of the tubular body  2  with notches  3  provided therebetween is formed into a curved-face shape having no corner to facilitate the fitting of a grip portion  5  of an article receptacle such as a film bag into the tubular body  2  and to moderate the pressure contact of the opposite side ends  6   a  and  6   b  with a hand. A plurality of wrinkles are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular body  2  for preventing the sliding movement of the grip portion  5  within the tubular body  2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a grasping auxiliary forcarrying an article or articles and a process for producing the same,and particularly, to a grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles, which is suitable for protection of fingers from a loadapplied by the article(s) during carrying of the article(s) using a filmbag for accommodating the article (s) purchased in a supermarket storeor any of other stores by a purchaser, and a process for producing thesame.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventionally, a film bag for articles of commerce purchased ina supermarket store or any of other stores by a purchaser has beenprovided from the store.

[0005] This film bag is produced in the following manner: A flexibleresin material is subjected to a melting/molding treatment using amolding machine called a so-called tubular film-molding machine toproduce a long tubular film having folded portions formed at widthwiseopposite side edges. Subsequently, a central portion of the tubular filmis punched at lengthwise regular distances and then, the remainingportion left after punching of the central portion and a portion whichwill be a bottom of a previously determined bag are sealed in awidthwise direction by a proper means, and the sealed portion is cut. Asa result, the remaining portion left after the punching is a gripportion.

[0006] The film bag formed in the above manner is lightweight and has amoderate strength and hence, is extremely convenient for use as areceptacle or container for accommodation of an article or articles.

[0007] However, the film bag suffers from the following problem: Whenthe film bag with an article or articles accommodated therein iscarried, if the article has a considerable weight, the total weight ofthe article(s) is applied to fingers grasping the grip portion andhence, the grip portion bites into the fingers. As a result, the fingersare painful and thus, the film bag cannot be grasped for a long time.

[0008] To solve such problem, the present inventors have zealous studiesand as a result, they have devised a finger-protecting pipe for a filmbag described in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 11-007525.According to Japanese Utility Model Application No. 11-007525, the pipeis formed into a U-shape from a flexible foamed resin in an extremelysimple structure, so that a grip portion of a film bag is fitted intothe pipe for use of the pipe. Thus, the film bag with an article orarticles having a considerable weight accommodated therein can becarried safely.

[0009] Further pending considerations regarding such a finger-protectingpipe includes a point that the fitting of the grip portion of the filmbag into the pipe is further facilitated, leading to an enhancedhandleability, and a point that the article(s) can be carried safely andstably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea grasping auxiliary for carrying an article or articles, wherein theattachment and detachment of a grip portion of an article-accommodatingmeans such as a film bag to and from the auxiliary can be conductedeasily; the swinging movement of the grip portion during carrying of thebag can be limited, and further, the pressure contact of the auxiliarywith a hand can be moderated to carry article(s) safely, and it isanother object of the present invention to provide a process forproducing such a grasping auxiliary.

[0011] To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect andfeature of the present invention, there is provided a grasping auxiliaryfor carrying an article or articles, comprising a long tubular bodyformed from a polymer material into a substantially circular shape or apolygonal shape in section perpendicular to a lengthwise direction withnotches provided in part, so that a grip portion of an articlereceptacle can be fitted into the tubular body through the notches,whereby the article receptacle can be carried in a state in which anouter peripheral surface of the tubular body has been grasped, whereineach of opposite side ends of the tubular body with notches providedtherebetween is formed into a curved-face shape having no corner inorder to facilitate the fitting of the grip portion into the tubularbody and to moderate the pressure contact of the opposite side ends witha hand, and a plurality of wrinkles are formed on an inner peripheralsurface of the tubular body in order to prevent the sliding movement ofthe grip portion within the tubular body.

[0012] With such arrangement, each of the opposite side ends of thetubular body with the notches provided therebetween is formed into thecurved-face shape having no corner. Therefore, it is possible tofacilitate the attachment and detachment of the grip portion of thearticle receptacle to and from the tubular body, and to moderate thepressure contact of the opposite side ends with the hand upon graspingof the tubular body to protect fingers more effectively. In addition,the sliding movement of the grip portion within the tubular body can beprevented and thus, the auxiliary can be used to carry the article(s)stably.

[0013] According to a second aspect and feature of the presentinvention, in addition to the first feature, portions of the tubularbody in predetermined regions on the side of the opposite side ends arecurved or bent, so that they are recessed inwards in a radial directionof the tubular body.

[0014] With such arrangement, particularly, it is possible to furtherfacilitate the fitting of the grip portion into the tubular body and tofurther effectively moderate the pressure contact of the side ends withthe hand upon grasping of the tubular body.

[0015] According to a third aspect and feature of the present invention,in addition to the first or second feature, the tubular body and theopposite side ends of the curved-face shape as well as the wrinklesformed on the tubular body are formed in a process for molding a polymermaterial by folding a long tubular base material flatly with halvesintegrally superposed on each other, and curving or bending the basematerial.

[0016] With such arrangement, when the base material is folded flatlywith the halves superposed on each other, turn-ups are formed at theopposite side ends of the superposed base material, respectively. Theopposite side ends of the curved-face shape in the tubular body can beformed easily by virtue of the presence of the turn-ups. One of thehalves of the superposed base material on the side of an innerperipheral surface of the tubular body has a circumferential dimensionalsurplus area formed based on a difference between radius dimensions uponthe curving or bending of the base material, as compared with the otherhalf on the side of an outer peripheral surface, and the wrinkles can beformed by producing the looseness or shrinkage in the dimensionalsurplus area upon curving or bending of the base material. Further, thebase material folded flatly has a double structure, and the toughtubular body can be formed by virtue of the double structure.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect and feature of the presentinvention, in addition to any of the first, second and third features,cutouts are formed at a predetermined depth in the tubular body toextend in a direction crossing the notches, so that a grip portionhaving a crossing shape can be fitted into the tubular body over an areaof crossing of the notches and the cutouts.

[0018] With such configuration, for example, when a plurality ofarticles such as books and newspapers are tied together in a crisscrosspattern using a long string as an article receptacle, the grip portionof the article receptacle comprising the string assumes the crossingshape, but even when the article receptacle having the grip portionhaving the crossing shape is used, the grip portion can be fitted intothe tubular body by virtue of the presence of the notches and thecutouts. Therefore, such an article receptacle can be carried safely andstably. In addition, the grasping auxiliary is suitable for the carryingof an article or articles using any of various types of articlereceptacles.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect and feature of the present invention,in addition to any of claims 1 to 4, the polymer material is a flexiblefoamed resin.

[0020] With such feature, the tubular body can be grasped furtherstably.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect and feature of the present invention,in addition to any of claims 1 to 5, a pair of notches are formed in thelengthwise opposite edges of the tubular body at locations opposed tothe notches, so that they are recessed in the lengthwise direction ofthe tubular body.

[0022] With such configuration, the sliding movement of the grip portionwithin the tubular body can be prevented further effectively by fittingthe grip portion into the pair of notches.

[0023] According to a seventh aspect and feature of the presentinvention, there is provided a process for producing a graspingauxiliary for carrying an article or articles, comprising a long tubularbody formed from a polymer material into a substantially circular shapeor a polygonal shape in a section perpendicular to a lengthwisedirection with notches formed in part, so that a grip portion of anarticle receptacle can be fitted into the tubular body through thenotches, whereby the article receptacle can be carried in a state inwhich an outer peripheral surface of the tubular body has been grasped,the process comprising the steps of folding a long cylindrical basematerial made of a polymer flatly with halves integrally superposed oneach other, and curving or bending the base material to form a tubularbody having a double structure, so that each of opposite side ends ofthe tubular with the notches provided therebetween is formed into acurved-face shape having no corner to facilitate the fitting of the gripportion into the tubular body and to moderate the pressure contact ofthe opposite side ends with a hand, and so that a plurality of wrinklesare formed on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular body forpreventing the sliding movement of the grip portion within the tubularbody.

[0024] With such process, when the cylindrical base material is foldedflatly, the opposite side ends of the tubular body having thecurved-face shape and comprising turn-ups can be formed easily at theopposite side ends of the base material. In addition, the wrinkles canbe formed easily by curving or bending the base material, and further,the tough tubular body can be formed by virtue of the double structureof the base material. Thus, it is possible to produce a graspingauxiliary easily and promptly, which can be used to carry the article(s)safely and stably, while protecting fingers effectively. This leads toan enhancement in producing efficiency.

[0025] According to an eighth aspect and feature of the presentinvention, in addition to the seventh feature, notches other than theabove-described notches are formed at a predetermined depth in thetubular body, so that a grip portion having a crossing shape can befitted into the tubular body over an area of crossing of the notches andthe cutouts.

[0026] With such configuration, for example, when a plurality ofarticles such as books are tied together in a crisscross pattern using along string as an article receptacle, the grip portion of the articlereceptacle comprising the string assumes the crossing shape, but evenwhen the article receptacle having the grip portion having the crossingshape is used, the grip portion can be fitted into the tubular body byvirtue of the presence of the notches and the cutouts. Therefore, suchan article receptacle can be carried safely and stably. In addition, thegrasping auxiliary is suitable for the carrying of an article orarticles using any of various types of article receptacles.

[0027] The above and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grasping auxiliary for carryingan article or articles according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0029]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the grasping auxiliary in a servicestate;

[0030]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the grasping auxiliary shown in FIG.1;

[0031]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cylindrical base material formed ina process for producing a grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles according to the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 5 is a view of a base material having a double structure andformed by folding the cylindrical base material shown in FIG. 3 flatlywith halves superposed on each other;

[0033]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a grasping auxiliary for carryingan article or articles according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0034]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a grasping auxiliary for carryingan article or articles according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0035]FIG. 8 a perspective view of a grasping auxiliary for carrying anarticle or articles according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention, which is in a different form from that in FIG. 6;

[0036]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the grasping auxiliary according tothe third embodiment in a service state; and

[0037]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the grasping auxiliary in a servicestate using another article receptacle different from that in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The present invention will now be described by way of embodimentswith reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] First, a grasping auxiliary for carrying an article or articlesaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, the grasping auxiliary 1 according to thefirst embodiment includes a longer tubular body 2 made of, for example,a resin material such as a flexible formed resin, or a polymer materialsuch as a rubber.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the tubular body 2 is formed into asubstantially circular shape in cut section perpendicular to alengthwise direction to have notches 3 in part, so that a grip portion 5of an article receptacle 4 such as a film bag can be fitted into thetubular body 2 through the notches 3. The sectional shape of the tubularbody is not limited to the substantially circular shape, and may be apolygonal shape such as a hexagonal shape.

[0042] In the present embodiment, each of opposite side ends 6 a and 6 bof the tubular body 2 with the notches 3 provided therebetween is formedin a curved-face shape having no corner. Therefore, when the gripportion 5 is fitted into the tubular body 2 through the notches 3, thegrip portion 5 can be prevented from being caught on the opposite sideends 6 a and 6 b of the tubular body 2. Likewise, when the grip portion5 is removed from the tubular body 2, the grip portion 5 can beprevented from being caught on the opposite side ends 6 a and 6 b of thetubular body 2.

[0043] Further, when a person grasps the tubular body 2 with the articlereceptacle 4 mounted to the tubular body 2, as shown in FIG. 2, thepressure contact of the opposite side ends 6 a and 6 b with a person'shand can be moderated.

[0044] Therefore, it is possible to smoothly carry out the fitting andseparation of the grip portion 5 into and from the tubular body 2 byvirtue of the presence of the side ends 6 a and 6 b of the tubular body2, and to prevent fingers from being painful due to the grasping of thetubular body 2 for a long time and in its turn to carry an article orarticles safely and stably.

[0045] The curvature of the curved-face shape can be changed to any ofshapes in accordance with the design concept.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of wrinkles 7 are formed on aninner peripheral surface of the tubular body 2 in a lengthwise directionof the tubular body 2, so that the grip portion 5 fitted into thetubular body 2 can be prevented by the wrinkles 7 from being slidcircumferentially along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body2 during carrying of the article receptacle 4.

[0047] Therefore, the carrying of the article receptacle 4 can beconducted further stably.

[0048] In the present embodiment, a pair of substantially U-shapednotches 20 recessed in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body 2are further formed in lengthwise opposite edges of the tubular body 2 atlocations opposed to the notches 3.

[0049] Therefore, the grip portion 5 can be fitted into the pair ofnotches 20 and thus retained and hence, the sliding movement of the gripportion 5 in the tubular body 2 can be prevented more effectively andfurther, the stable carrying of the article(s) can be realized. Thenotches 20 may be provided as required.

[0050] An embodiment of a process for producing the grasping auxiliary 1for carrying an article or articles according to the present inventionwill be described below. In the present embodiment, the production ofthe article-carrying grasping auxiliary 1 using a flexible foamed resinas a polymer material for convenience will be described, but the presentinvention is not limited to the use of the flexible foamed resin, andfor example, a resin material other than the flexible foamed resin or apolymer material such as a rubber may be used.

[0051] First, as shown in FIG. 4, a long cylindrical base material 9 isformed by the extrusion or inflation of a flexible foamed resin using acommon resin-forming die (not shown). Then, the base material is passedbetween a pair of stable plates, so that it is gradually deformedflatly. Thereafter, the resulting base material is clamped between apair of rotated pinch rolls and pulled out, whereby the base material isfolded flatly with halves superposed on each other, as shown in FIG. 5.Then, superposed opposite wall portions 9 a and 9 b of the base material9 are secured to each other by thermal welding or the like. At thistime, turn-ups are formed at widthwise opposite side ends of the basematerial 9 with the halves superposed on each other, respectively. Theturn-ups correspond to the opposite side ends 6 a and 6 b of thecurved-face shape. Therefore, the opposite side ends 6 a and 6 b of thetubular body 2 with the notches 3 provided therebetween can be formedinto the curved-face shape by a simple process.

[0052] Subsequently, the base material 9 with the halves integrallysuperposed on each other is curved circularly with the opposite sideends moved toward each other. In this case, for example, a substantiallycylindrical die may be placed on a transporting line (not shown) for thebase material 9 extruded from the die, so that the base material 9 isautomatically curved as it is passed through the die along thetransporting line.

[0053] When the base material 9 is curved, the upper wall portion 9 a ofthe base material 9 on the side of the inner peripheral surface of thetubular body 2 has a circumferential dimensional surplus based on adifference between radius dimensions upon the curving of the basematerial 9, as compared with the lower wall portion 9 b on the side ofthe outer peripheral surface, and the wrinkles 7 can be formed byproducing the looseness or shrinkage in an area corresponding to thedimensional surplus. Therefore, the opposite side ends 6 a and 6 b ofthe curved-face shape and the wrinkles 7 can be easily formed on thetubular body 2. The base material folded flatly has a double structurecomprising the upper and lower wall portions 9 a and 9 b shown in FIG. 5and hence, a tough tubular body 2 can be formed.

[0054] A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article or articlesaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6.

[0055] The grasping auxiliary 11 for carrying the article(s) accordingto the first embodiment is not different in basic arrangement from thefirst embodiment, except that opposite side ends 6 a and 6 b withnotches 3 provided therebetween are formed in a tubular body 2, so thatthey are recessed inwards in a radial direction of the tubular body 2.

[0056] Therefore, a grip portion 5 of an article receptacle 4 such as afilm bag can be fitted more easily into the tubular body 2, than in theauxiliary according to the first embodiment, and it is possible tocompletely avoid the pressure contact of the opposite side ends 6 a and6 b of the tubular body 2 with the notches 3 provided therebetween witha hand upon grasping of the tubular body 2.

[0057] Thus, fingers can be protected effectively, and the articlereceptacle 4 can be carried safely and stably.

[0058] A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article or articlesaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0059] The grasping auxiliary 12, 13 for carrying the article(s)according to the third embodiment is not different in basic arrangementfrom the article-carrying grasping auxiliaries 1 and 11 according to thefirst and second embodiment, except that cutouts 15 are formed at apredetermined depth in a tubular body 2 to extend in a directioncrossing notches 3, as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8. Therefore, forexample, when a plurality of articles such as books are tied together ina crisscross pattern using a long string 16 as the article receptacle 4,as shown in FIG. 9, a grip portion 5 of the article receptaclecomprising the string assumes a crossing shape, but even when thearticle receptacle 4 having the grip portion 5 having the crossing shapeis used, the grip portion 5 can be fitted into the tubular body 2 byvirtue of the presence of the notches 3 and the cutouts 15.

[0060] Therefore, the article receptacle 4 having the grip portion ofthe crossing shape can be carried safely and stably and hence, thegrasping auxiliary can be used to carry any of article receptacles 4 ofvarious shapes.

[0061] To produce the article-carrying grasping auxiliary 12, 13according to the third embodiment, after the formation of a tubular body2 of a grasping auxiliary 1 or 11 as shown in the first and secondembodiments, cutouts 15 may be formed at a predetermined depth in theouter peripheral wall of the tubular body 2 provided with notches 3 toextend in a direction crossing the notches 3. Therefore, thearticle-carrying grasping auxiliary 12, 13 according to the thirdembodiment and suitable to carry any of article receptacles 4 of variousshapes can be produced easily and promptly.

[0062] Although the embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail, it will be understood that the present invention isnot limited to the above-described embodiments, and variousmodifications in design may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention defined in claims.

[0063] For example, identifying information for publicity andadvertisement such as a trade name may be attached to the outerperipheral surface of the tubular body 2. In such case, a customer usingthe article-carrying grasping auxiliary necessarily views theidentifying information and hence, a good effect for publicity andadvertisement can be provided.

[0064] Further, the positions of and the number of cutouts 15 formed tointersect the notches 3 extending the lengthwise direction of thetubular body 2 may be changed properly in accordance with the form ofthe grip portion 5 of the article receptacle 4.

[0065] Furthermore, the article receptacle 4 is not limited to the filmbag and the string described above, and for example, may be a paper bagas shown in FIG. 10. Even in this case, the grip portion 5 of the paperbag fitted into the tubular body 2 can be grasped and hence, the paperbag can be carried safely and stably.

What is claimed is
 1. A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles, comprising a long tubular body formed from a polymer materialinto a substantially circular shape or a polygonal shape in sectionperpendicular to a lengthwise direction with notches provided in part,so that a grip portion of an article receptacle can be fitted into saidtubular body through said notches, whereby the article receptacle can becarried in a state in which an outer peripheral surface of said tubularbody has been grasped, wherein each of opposite side ends of saidtubular body with notches provided therebetween is formed into acurved-face shape having no corner in order to facilitate the fitting ofthe grip portion into said tubular body and to moderate the pressurecontact of said opposite side ends with a hand, and a plurality ofwrinkles are formed on an inner peripheral surface of said tubular bodyin order to prevent the sliding movement of the grip portion within saidtubular body.
 2. A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles according to claim 1, wherein portions of said tubular body inpredetermined regions on the side of the opposite side ends are curvedor bent, so that they are recessed inwards in a radial direction of saidtubular body.
 3. A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body and saidopposite side ends of the curved-face shape as well as said wrinklesformed on said tubular body are formed in a process for molding apolymer material by folding a long tubular base material flatly withhalves integrally superposed on each other, and curving or bending thebase material.
 4. A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles according to claim 2, wherein said tubular body and saidopposite side ends of the curved-face shape as well as said wrinklesformed on said tubular body are formed in a process for molding apolymer material by folding a long tubular base material flatly withhalves integrally superposed on each other, and curving or bending thebase material.
 5. A grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further including cutouts areformed at a predetermined depth in said tubular body to extend in adirection crossing said notches, so that a grip portion having acrossing shape can be fitted into said tubular body over an area ofcrossing of said notches and said cutouts.
 6. A grasping auxiliary forcarrying an article or articles according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4,further including a pair of notches formed in the lengthwise oppositeedges of said tubular body at locations opposed to said notches, so thatthey are recessed in the lengthwise direction of said tubular body.
 7. Aprocess for producing a grasping auxiliary for carrying an article orarticles, comprising a long tubular body formed from a polymer materialinto a substantially circular shape or a polygonal shape in a sectionperpendicular to a lengthwise direction with notches formed in part, sothat a grip portion of an article receptacle can be fitted into saidtubular body through said notches, whereby the article receptacle can becarried in a state in which an outer peripheral surface of said tubularbody has been grasped, said process comprising the steps of folding along cylindrical base material made of a polymer flatly with halvesintegrally superposed on each other, and curving or bending said basematerial to form a tubular body having a double structure, so that eachof opposite side ends of the tubular with the notches providedtherebetween is formed into a curved-face shape having no corner tofacilitate the fitting of the grip portion into said tubular body and tomoderate the pressure contact of said opposite side ends with a hand,and so that a plurality of wrinkles are formed on an inner peripheralsurface of said tubular body for preventing the sliding movement of thegrip portion within said tubular body.
 8. A process for producing agrasping auxiliary for carrying an article or articles according toclaim 7, wherein notches other than the above-described notches areformed at a predetermined depth in said tubular body, so that a gripportion having a crossing shape can be fitted into said tubular bodyover an area of crossing of said notches and said cutouts.